This turn-key W198 Roadster has spent the last 27 years in a discerning US-based German classic car collection and comes to market as a no-excuses, fully matching numbers example with unusually high cosmetic standards for such an exhaustively maintained, touring-specific 300SL. Dressed in iconic DB 180 silver grey metallic paint over 1079 red leather and fitted with desirable European headlights, this superbly restored 300SL Roadster has a fully known history from new and comes with a robust service history file, original books, tools and jack. A truly top-flight 300SL Roadster with a rare combination of undeniable curb appeal that’s ready for daily and/or long distance use at the drop of a hat.
Highlights
- Exceptional touring 300SL Roadster
- Meticulously sorted and maintained
- Single private ownership for last 27 years
- Fully documented ownership history
- Matching numbers throughout
- Chassis no. 198042.10.002545
- Engine no. 198982.10.002599
- Body no. 198042-00054
- Transmission no. 2747
- Inline fuel-injected 6-cylinder
- 4-wheel drum brakes
- DB 180 Silbergrau metallic paint
- 1079 rot leather
- 872 black soft top
- European headlights
- Comprehensive service records
- Original books
- Tools and jack
- Becker Mexico radio
- Copy of factory data card
Sorted To The Nines
According to its accompanying factory issued data card, 300SL Roadster chassis 002545 left the Mercedes-Benz factory on March 30th, 1960, destined for delivery to the United States. The car was imported via Daimler-Benz North America at Rockefeller Center NY, NY and was fitted from new with 4-wheel drum brakes and a cast iron engine. The 300SL was delivered in DB 50 weis (White) paint over rarely seen 354 blue leather upholstery with an 872 black soft top. Further, the car came delivered as a coupe/roadster variant with a hard top, seat belts on both sides and was fitted with a 1:3.89 rear end ratio.
As noted in the official 300SL Gullwing Group Roadster Registry as well as original ownership documents contained in this Roadster’s robust service history file, the first owner of the car was Don B. Knapp of Naples, Florida. Knapp would go on to own the 300SL until 1979, with subsequent owners of the car prior to the current long term ownership tenure noted as George Tuffin of Toronto, Canada (1979-1981), John R. Olsen of Minneapolis, MN (1987), Helmut Reiss of Corona Del Mar, Ca (1987-1996) and Eric Lejeune of Germany (1996). Lejeune commissioned a full cosmetic and mechanical restoration of the car by Kienle Automobiltechnik GmbH in Stuttgart, Germany.
In 1997, the current, and now longest tenured owner of the car, purchased chassis 002545 and has since meticulously cared for it, sorting and precisely refining the car’s silky-smooth driving experience. As attested to by exhaustive record keeping contained within its history file, chassis 002545 was serviced and sorted extensively by marque specialist Bjorn Nordemo at Sport Leicht Restorations in West End, NC from 2002 through 2019. Since the passing of Mr. Nordemo, the car has been maintained through to today by notable Durham, North Carolina based German car specialists Road Scholars.
As a touring car, very few 300SL’s have been sorted, maintained, and re-sorted over the years to the extent that chassis 002545 has. Taking stock of and setting aside the car’s enviable touring capability, which puts it in a rare class of 300SL ready to drive 10 or 1,000 miles at a moments notice, it’s also important to appreciate the superb fit and finish of this Roadster, which allows it to be shown with pride alongside other top level W198’s on a myriad of concours show fields.
During the all-encompassing, top-tier restoration work performed in Germany prior to the current ownership, the 300SL Roadster was painted DB 180 silver-grey metallic while the upholstery was redone in 1079 red leather with a black canvas soft top. Desirable and authentic NOS European Bosch headlights were installed while all chrome was re-plated to a high standard and rubber was replaced throughout. The fit and finish of the car is every bit the match for its mechanical prowess, making chassis 002545 a rare bird 300SL indeed.
The engine bay aesthetics and the quality of its presentation matches that of the exterior of the car, showing today in a very clean and correct fashion throughout. Mechanically, as noted above, the car is simply superb; a car tested, toured and retested again and again over the years as noticeable in how it performs and as testified to through its meticulously compiled, robust service record file. Particularly noteworthy is the addition of an extra electric fan installed in front of the radiator to insure against overheating in stop-and-go driving situations. Also, an electronic ignition switch has been installed to further reduce the need for maintenance over time.
As detailed in the meticulous record keeping file accompanying the car with respect to significant mechanical work and upkeep performed in the current ownership, of particular note, the factory installed original 6-cylinder engine was fully rebuilt in 2014 by Bjorn Nordemo of Sport Leicht Restorations. From the standpoint of original components, chassis 002545 is very pure, retaining its original chassis, body, engine, transmission, steering box and rear end.
With no equivocation, 300SL Roadster chassis 002545 is an excellent W198 Mercedes-Benz in all respects. Having been in long term Mercedes-Benz enthusiast ownership for the last 27 years as an often-used and fastidiously cared for touring car, this no-excuses, turn-key German classic has a known ownership history from new and comes with a comprehensive service file, original books, tools, and jack. This 300SL is fully serviced and fully sorted for long distance touring events with a visual appeal worthy of any concours showfield.
